Industrial equipment often needs to communicate with several types of connected systems, from machine-side peripherals and production-data destinations to computers used for on-site setup and maintenance. When designing a control system, developers need to consider how these connections will be arranged, as well as the number of network interfaces and potential future expansion.
The ICOP VDX3-6757 PC/104 single-board computer provides two Gigabit Ethernet interfaces and one 10/100Mbps Ethernet interface, allowing developers to assign network roles according to the equipment architecture. Its PC/104 form factor and range of I/O interfaces make it an option to evaluate when adding connectivity to existing industrial equipment or replacing a controller board.
Multiple Ethernet interfaces offer configuration flexibility when equipment needs to connect to different subnets or separately managed networks, or when a dedicated connection is planned for engineering maintenance. For example, machine-side instruments and a factory data server may operate on different networks, while engineers also need an on-site connection for setup and diagnostics.
If the requirement is simply to connect more devices on the same network, expanding connectivity through an Ethernet switch may also be an option. The decision to use three LAN interfaces should be based on the network architecture, device communication requirements and maintenance workflow.
The three LAN interfaces on the VDX3-6757 can be assigned to device, host-system and maintenance connections, or to two device networks plus one host-system connection. These are example configurations rather than fixed functions. Data exchange and access rules between interfaces still require appropriate software and network settings.
Consider test equipment that connects to Ethernet measurement instruments and sends test results to a factory server. The three LAN interfaces can be assigned to instrument communication, result uploads and engineering maintenance.
Triple-LAN application example for industrial measurement and test equipment. Network roles are configurable; actual functions depend on the operating system, drivers and application software
One Ethernet interface can connect to measurement instruments or data-acquisition equipment, allowing the application to read data and send test commands to machine-side devices.
Another interface can connect to a test-management computer or data server. The application can upload test results, equipment status and operating logs for subsequent retrieval, analysis and management.
The third interface can be assigned to maintenance, allowing engineers to connect a laptop and use the parameter-setting, log-review or diagnostic functions provided by the application. Planning this interface during equipment design establishes a clear connection method for future on-site work.
This is an illustrative application architecture. Actual connections and functions must be integrated and verified against the instrument interfaces, operating system, drivers and application software.
Replacing a controller board in existing PC/104 equipment involves considering the installed expansion boards, peripheral connections, application software and available enclosure space. New Ethernet functions also need to be planned around these existing conditions.
With a 90 × 96 mm PC/104 form factor, a DM&P Vortex86DX3 processor, serial ports and other industrial peripheral interfaces, the VDX3-6757 is an option to evaluate for projects that need to accommodate both existing equipment connections and new network requirements.
Evaluating new connectivity functions or a controller-board update? Share your intended operating system, network connection targets and data volumes, along with existing expansion-board and peripheral-interface requirements, with ICOP to help identify suitable VDX3-6757 configurations and technical resources.
For more information and sample request, please write to info@icop.com.tw, call your nearest ICOP Branch, or contact our Worldwide Official Distributor.